Visiting the Docklands

In the past, there was little interaction between communities on either side of the River Liffey. Before Butt Bridge opened in 1879, Sackville Bridge (now O’Connell Bridge) was the closest crossing point, so people relied on Liffey ferries to travel downstream. Ringsend, which was part of Pembroke Township until 1930, housed some of Dublin's wealthiest families before becoming part of Dublin City that year.

When the Custom House was built in 1791, Ringsend was the only developed area nearby, while the rest of the land consisted of low-lying wastelands divided into lots by the Ballast Office. As the port expanded downriver, this land became more valuable, attracting people and businesses with job opportunities and large areas of undeveloped land. Over time, land was drained or reclaimed to improve access, and major projects like the construction of the North Wall and Alexandra Basin created space for factories and other businesses.

Traditional industries such as poplin and silk were centered near St. Patrick’s Cathedral but declined after 1800, leading to population decreases in older parts of Dublin. In contrast, Docklands saw steady population growth throughout the 19th century as vacant land was developed into housing and commercial properties. The Royal Canal and Grand Canal opened harbors in the area in the early 1800s, while two major railway terminals—Amiens Street and Westland Row—were established by the 1850s. The Docklands became a hub for hotels, warehouses, coal yards, cattle yards, and stables supporting port activities and railway transport.

Large employers like railway companies built housing for workers, while speculative builders constructed small cottages to accommodate the growing population. However, industrial and commercial development often took priority over housing needs, leading to poor living conditions as homes were occasionally demolished to make way for business premises.

Docklands Facts

• The original Jeanie Johnston was built in 1847. As the famine gripped Ireland, the owners carried fleeing Irish emigrants to North America. It made 16 voyages in total, carrying 2,500 Irish emigrants. The fare to Quebec was £3.10.
   
• 3177 vehicles, 6308 pedestrians, 55 equestrians and 223 cattle crossed Butt bridge everyday in 1879.
   
• A downtrodden Leprosy hospice was located on Misery hill, hence its name! It was believed lepers were “the unclean” and would be walked to the hospice on Misery Hill with one man tolling a bell and another carrying a 40 foot pole to keep everyone at a safe distance. Today this is where we get the expression “I wouldn’t touch him with a 40 foot pole!”
   
• The Custom House opened in 1791, the building cost £200,000 to build. In today’s money it would be close to €24 million.
   
• The restored chq building is the last surviving warehouse of the Docklands, this mighty structure hosted a banquet for 4,000 veterans of the Crimean War in 1856.
   
• The IFSC buildings were the first buildings in Ireland to have air conditioning!
   
• In 1911 Dublin’s population of 305,000 recorded a higher death rate than Calcutta.
   
• 300 years ago there were no houses in the Docklands with the exception of the small fishing hamlet of Ringsend. Most of the land was underwater with the occasional watchtower, customs outpost and pilgrimage hospice along the waterfront.
   

Docklands Figures

• The Dublin Docklands area is spread over 520 hectares north and south of the Liffey.
   
• The North Lotts and Grand Canal Dock SDZ Planning Scheme comprises of 66 hectares of the overall Dublin Docklands area.

It is estimated that the SDZ scheme will provide for 2600 residential units and 305,000m2 of commercial floorspace which equates to a residential population of circa 5,800 and circa 23,000 workers.

Dublin City Council commissioned Valencian architect Santiago Calatrava - the world's leading bridge designer - to create the Samuel Beckett Bridge which connects the north and south sides of the River Liffey halfway between the Seán O'Casey Bridge and the East Link Bridge. The brief called for ‘a landmark structure of unmistakable modernity and with a unique character that would provide a symbol at the maritime gateway of Dublin, similar to the manner in which the Ha'penny Bridge has become an icon for the city.

A Graham Hollandia joint venture constructed the bridge superstructure in Rotterdam. The bridge was delivered to Dublin on a 90m by 26m barge. The 628-mile journey took approx five days. The entire project cost €59.95 million. Funding came from Department of the Environment Heritage and Local Government, Dublin City Council and Dublin Docklands Development Authority. The Samuel Beckett Bridge is 120 metres long, with the curved pylon 48 metres above water level. It is cable-stayed and rests on a reinforced concrete support pier which has been constructed in the River Liffey and on abutments behind the existing quay walls. It has four traffic lanes (two running north and two running south), cycle paths and footpaths and weighs 5,700 tonnes. The bridge can rotate through an angle of 90 degrees to facilitate maritime traffic.

Officially opened to traffic on the 11th December 2009, the Samuel Beckett Bridge links Guild Street north of the Quays with Sir John Rogerson's Quay on the south.
 

It is hard to ignore the rugged beauty of the two Scherzer Bridges on the north quays, one at Custom House Quay, the other at New Wapping Street. These were constructed to a design patented by William Scherzer of Chicago and installed in 1912. The bridges operated as lock gates between the River Liffey and dock and canals beyond.

Pedestrian & Cyclist Bridges over the Royal Canal on North Wall Quay
Offically opened by The Lord Mayor of Dublin, Paul McAuliffe on 20th December 2019, this new pedestrian and cylist bridge over the Royal Canal on North Wall Quay will improve the experience of pedestrians and cyclists using the Liffey Campshires.  The bridge provides segregated pathways for cyclists and pedestrians enhancing safety and accessibility for those using this popular route.

Dublin's newest bridge, the Sean O'Casey Bridge in the Docklands was officially opened by An Taoiseach, Mr. Bertie Ahern, TD, in 2005. The bridge provides an important link between the IFSC area in north Docklands and the Trinity College/Merrion Square areas. Architects Brian Halloran & Associates were responsible for the design of the bridge. The team also included engineers, O'Connor Sutton Cronin and contractors John Mowlem Construction Ltd who worked with the Docklands Authority and over 100 people to complete the project. The bridge was described by judges as an "elegant combination of architecture, urban planning, structure and design. It succeeds in compacting the city and feels as though it has been in existence for a long time." The Bridge received an RIAI award in 2006.

The Luas runs over the Spencer Dock Bridge at the Royal Canal which opened on Bloomsday, June 16th 2009. The Spencer Dock Bridge is the principal structure along the LUAS Red Line Docklands C1 extension to the Point Depot.

The Bridge was the recipient of an award for Best Structural Design at the LEAF Awards 2009. The Award recognised Amanda Levete, architects, for implementation of an innovative structural design solution. The conceptual design is based on the geometry of the Manta Ray fish with asymmetric pectoral fins (wings) extending out from the body of the bridge deck and reaching down towards the water level in the Royal Canal.

The 40 metre span bridge features fluid lines and an undulating concrete surface taking traffic and pedestrians across the Royal Canal.

Description - Described by the Sunday Times as a building that will "bring the champagne fizz back into architecture in Dublin", Manuel Aires Mateus's luxury hotel, plus 94 hotel residences, plays a vital role in the dynamic of the new Grand Canal Square. Referencing, through form and material, the dramatic landscape and primordial architecture of Ireland, the building features a dramatic lobby that has been designed as if it was excavated from rock inspired by the Giant's Causeway.

Just 100 metres along the Liffey into the Docklands is another architectural masterpiece - the chq building. Designed by John Rennie and completed in 1821, the cast-iron structure was originally built as a wine and tobacco warehouse and named Stack A. Now renamed chq, the building has been beautifully restored and enhanced by an international team of architects, glass and lighting consultants. 

A location like no other building in Dublin, the chq building overlooks the River Liffey and George’s Dock, the building was designed by John Rennie and completed in 1821.  The cast-iron structure was originally built as a wine and tobacco warehouse and named Stack A.  The then Stack A was made famous when it hosted the Crimean War Banquet in 1856 celebrating the return of 3,000 Irish soldiers. The building has been magnificently restored and enhanced and is also now home to EPIC Ireland,  Dublin’s dramatic new interactive visitor experience.   .For further information log onto www.chq.ie

This landmark building was designed by Pritzker award-winning Irish architect Kevin Roche, and features a stunning glass fronted atrium running the full height of the building - giving visitors panoramic views of the River Liffey, Dublin city centre and the Wicklow mountains. This tilted glass cylinder - 54 meters high and 39 meters in diameter - intersects the granite wall of the south facade, creating a partial parabola. The glass cylinder opens up to the activities inside and makes for a highly visible entrance.

Conceived as part of the overall Spencer Dock Development, located on a site adjacent to the Royal Canal between North Wall Quay and Mayor Street, the Conference Centre embodies a well considered program of conference facilities designed to attract the international conference and associated exhibitions market to Dublin.  The Centre is composed of a number of different elements, which can function separately or in concert, to meet a variety of conferencing, exhibitions, and small meeting demands. The building is 45,921 square metres in size. The Main Exhibition Hall, located at the ground floor level, can be subdivided into two parts for dual purpose usage. A second Exhibition Hall, similar in size, can be converted into two auditoriums. A raked floor auditorium, capable of housing up to 2,000 people, is located on the second floor of the complex. The auditorium is a fully equipped hall capable of accommodating many events, from international conferences and meetings to product shows, multi-media presentations, orchestra performances, musical theatre, and opera.

Kevin Roche (born 14th June 1922) was born in Dublin, but grew up in Mitchelstown, Co. Cork, and was educated at Rockwell College, before studying architecture at University College Dublin. After graduation in 1945, he worked with Michael Scott on the Busáras project for a short while, but contributed to the external appearance of the finished building on the pavilion storey. He left Dublin in 1948 and worked with Maxwell Fry and Jane Drew before he emigrated to the United States to study with Mies van der Rohe. Instead of returning to Ireland, he got a job with Eero Saarinen (1910-1961) and Associates from 1951 until 1961. Here he worked in the planning department before becoming chief associate in 1956. After Saarinen's death he continued the practice in partnership with the structural engineer John Dinkeloo (1918-1981) under the name Roche and Dinkeloo. Here, he completed such projects as the Gateways Arch at St. Louis, Missouri, and the TWA Terminal at JFK Airport. In 1982, he won the Pritzker Architecture Prize, the most prestigious award in architecture, the equivalent of a Nobel Prize and one of many awards that he has received. In all, Roche has been responsible for some 51 major projects in the period 1962-82. Paul Goldberger, a New York Times architecture critic, described Roche as "one of the most creative designers in glass that the 20th century has produced," and "a brilliantly innovative designer; his work manages to be inventive without ever falling into the trap of excessive theatricality."

For more information www.theccd.ie

This 2,100 capacity purpose built theatre was designed by world renowned architect Daniel Libeskind and is an outstanding addition to Ireland's Theatre world.  The theatre is presenting the best of National and International Theatre, Musicals, Drama, Opera, Ballet, Family Shows & Classical Concerts and has the facility to accommodate world class West End and Broadway productions for the first time in Ireland.

The opening production at the Bord Gais Energy Theatre in Dublin on March 18, 2010 was a stunning performance of Swan Lake by the Russian State Ballet, featuring star soloists from the Bolshoi Ballet.

For more information and bookings log on to www.boardgaisenergytheatre.ie

One of Dublin’s finest 18th-Century buildings, it was almost destroyed during the War for Independence in 1921. However, ships carrying cargoes of dutiable goods, such as wine, tobacco, sugar and tea continued to tie up at the nearby quays. Their cargoes were often stored in warehouses or ’stacks’ attached to the Custom House Dock. In 1840 the building became the Irish headquarters of the Poor Law Commissioners, who carried a major responsibility for relief during the great famine of the 1840s.

In 1872 the Custom House became the headquarters of the Local Government Board of Ireland. The building also housed the Irish Revenue Commissioners. In May 1921, during the Irish War of Independence, the Dublin Brigade of the IRA attacked the building, setting it on fire. They wished to destroy the main tax and local government records as part of their campaign to undermine British administration in Ireland. The fire lasted for five days; all that survived was the shell.

The Three Arena  (formerly The Point) is Europe's first venue, of its size, which is custom designed for live music. The old Victorian warehouse is still very evident at the Three Arena but the pillars have been moved to create an amphitheatre style design and therefore it boasts unrivalled acoustics. The layout also ensures clear sightlines and proximity to the stage for everyone in the audience, due to its unique tiered seating design. The Three Arena has a capacity to hold up to 14,000 people who will enjoy some 150 entertainment and live music events in any given year. The Arena opened its doors to the public in December 2008.

The Three Arena  is a development of the Point Exhibition Company, made up of Live Nation and Harry Crosbie.

The Three Arena  (formerly The Point Depot) started life as a large cast-iron warehouse. It was built in 1878 by the Great Southern and Western Railway Company as a riverside goods depot. Its location beside the point at which the East Wall and North Wall met provided the buildings name. By the 1980's the building was abandoned and facing collapse when it was bought by Harry Crosbie from CIÉ for €952,500. Shay Cleary Architects was recruited to turn the building into a multi-purpose concert, exhibition and conference centre. During the renovation U2 recorded part of their Rattle and Hum album in the building. The Point Depot operated between 1988 and 2007 as a venue for music concerts, boxing matches, exhibitions, operas, as well as theatre and circus performances. It hosted the Eurovision Song Contest on three separate occasions in the 1990's and the 1999 MTV European Music Awards.

The Three Arena is Europe's first venue, of its size, which is custom designed for live music. It is an amphitheatre design and boasts unrivalled acoustics. The layout also ensures clear sightlines and proximity to the stage for everyone in the audience, due to its unique tiered seating design. The THREE ARENA has a capacity to hold up to 14,000 people who will enjoy some 150 entertainment and live music events in any given year. The Three Arena opened its doors to the public in December 2008 after an €80 million investment. It is a development of the Point Exhibition Company, made up of Live Nation and Harry Crosbie. Live Nation operates over 155 music and entertainment venues across three continents and promotes acts as diverse as Madonna, U2, The Rolling Stones and Jay Z.

To book tickets log onto 3arena.ie

Grand Canal Square, an exciting urban space in Dublin's Docklands, was opened in June 2007.  The square is located a Grand Canal Dock on the south side of the River Liffey between Sir John Rogerson's Quay and Pearse Street.

Designed by American Landscape Architect, Martha Schwarts and developed by the DDDA, the 10,000 sq metre square is one of the largest paved public spaces in Dublin city.  The €8 million project is among the  most innovative landscape design projects ever undertaken in Ireland and Grand Canal Square has become a key cultural destination for Docklands and the city.

The Square features a strking composition of a red "carpet" extending from the theatre into and over the dock.  This is crossed by a green "carpet" of paving with lawns and vegetation.  The red "carpet" is made of bright red resin-glass paving covered with red glowing angled light sticks.  The green "carpet" of polygon-shaped planters filled with marsh like vegetation provides seating and connects the 'Marker Hotel' to the office development across the square.

Grand Canal Square is also criss-crossed by granite-paved paths that allow movement across it in any possible direction, while still allowing for the Square to host major public events such as festivals and performances.  This layout can accommodate a diverse range of activities throughout the day or night.

Mayor Square, in the IFSC, was shortlisted for the Academy of Urbanism Award 2009 in the Great Places category.

Mayor Square was regenerated from dereliction to become a lively and attractive public space.  It is now the focus for residences, some 30 restaurants and shops, a créche, offices, a 4-star hotel, and the National College of Ireland.  

Located on the eastern edge of the city's central business district, on the north side of the River Liffey, Mayor Square traverses the quarter east west and north south linking to the river quayside by pedestrian street, Excise Walk.  

Campshires are stretches of cobbled paths between the quay and road on the north and south of Dublin's Quays.  They are named campshires because the various British Regiments such as the GloucesterSHIRES etc. used to camp on them before setting off or returning from battles.

Before the Port facilities moved down river the campshire areas were used for loading and unloading cargo.  The Dublin Docklands Development Authority renewed and rejuvenated the whole area with walkways and cycle tracks being installed on both sides of the River Liffey.

The Campshires play host to a range of events and activities throughout the year including 'The Dublin Port Riverfest' and 'The Parade of Sail'.  It is also an excellent viewpoint for events and activities from both the north and south of the River Liffey.

Chimney Park built on the site of Dublin Gasworks, is one of the last projects in the redevelopment of Grand Canal Dock.  It incorporates the restored redbrick chimney as its centrepiece, with other features including a mirrow wall and water-play theme.

The Royal Canal Linear Park features floating gardens and pavilions with the Luas Spencer Dock bridge crossing above.  The park provides a visually striking public amenity green space covering six hectares in the North Lotts area of the Docklands. This park has been designed to be used and appreciated by all of Dublin's citizens whether they want to relax, be active or appreciate the greenery.